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Guerrilla Film Scoring (Book Review)

Posted by on Jun 27, 2015 in Books, Featured, Reviews, Reviews (Books) | 0 comments

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Author: Jeremy Borum
Topic: Film Composition
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Available Formats: Paperback, Hardback, eBook
Page Count: 270 Pp.
MSRP: $30
Expected Release: Available Now
Official Website: Click Here
Sample Chapter: N/A
Special Discount: Click Here
Critique Issue: Issue #111 (06/15)
Critiqued By: Gabe Gibitz
Final Score: 8.8

Scoring music for film is quite an overwhelming task, and Jeremy Borum sets out in his new book, Guerrilla Film Scoring, to demystify the process and help budding film composers navigate the tumultuous waters of the ever-changing film scoring business. (Some may see the waters as tumultuous, but I think Borum would see this as an open door for massive change in the industry…and, to that, I would agree.) His introduction sets up the framework of the entire book in saying, “Although a study of the Hollywood machine is interesting, it’s ultimately not very useful” (xi). The rules that applied 20 years ago are a frail, dying structure upon which to build a film career. Though Hollywood budgets still exist, the average film composer will find much more work in micro-budget films. read more

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An Exploratory Journey: Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker Elizabeth Rohrbaugh Releases, ‘Dylan’ (Industry Press Release)

Posted by on Jun 22, 2015 in Featured, Industry, News, Press Releases | 0 comments

Dylan Banner

June 22, 2015 (New York, NY) – After being celebrated at the St. Louis Film Festival, Queer Film Festival, Boston LGBT Film Festival, and Melbourne Queer Festival, Emmy Award-winning director, Elizabeth Rohrbaugh releases her latest work ‘Dylan’, a poignant short film about a transgender man’s journey. The film became available for free streaming online starting in June, in honor of LGBT Pride Month. Based on an interview with childhood friend, Dylan Winn Garner, the film tells Dylan’s story (as performed by transgender actor, Becca Blackwell), of his exploration of the transgender community, his family’s approval of his identity, and ultimately his physical and emotional transformation.

Rohrbaugh began the process of making this film nearly ten years ago when she wrote the script as part of a theater writing workshop taught by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, who were best known for creating The Exonerated. Tasked to interview someone with an interesting story, Rohrbaugh chose newly transitioned Dylan, whom she had known since childhood as Emily. This year, Rohrbaugh turned his story into a script and completed the film. read more

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Sarah’s Room (Straight Shooter Film Review)

Posted by on Jun 19, 2015 in Feature Length, Featured, Narrative, Straight Shooter Reviews (Feature Narrative) | 0 comments

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Director: Grant McPhee
Distributor: Indie Flix
Genre: Arthouse/Experimental
Running Time: 80 minutes
Budget: $6,000
Expected Rating: R due to language, adult situations, and imagery
Website: Click Here
Trailer: Click Here
Purchase: Click Here
Reviewer: Jeremy T. Hanke
Famous Film it’s most like: Eraserhead
Similar Directors: David Lynch, Darren Aronofsky
Final Score: 6.0 (out of 10)

Joe (Patrick O’Brien) is a reclusive man with dark secrets in his past, psychological problems, and addictions he wallows in. To help with the cost of their home—and to help keep her spirits up—Joe’s wife, Hannah (Kitty Colquhoun), invites her best friend, Sarah (Hanna Stanbridge), to move in as a housemate with them. However, when Sarah moves in, Joe’s world crashes down around him as he becomes lost in a world of visions, dreams, and confusion which might have something to do with drug use, mental issues, witchcraft, infidelity, obsession, sleepwalking—or none of the above.

Story

‘Psychedelic Madness!’ is the catch phrase the filmmakers use to describe this film on IndieFlix and, in this regard, they are dead on the money! read more

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Low Budget, High Fantasy: Top Ten Tips to Make a Quality Fantasy Series Without Breaking the Bank (Article/Tips)

Posted by on Jun 12, 2015 in Articles, Behind-the-Scenes, Featured, Tips | 3 comments

Kate Madison directs James Malpas (Baynon) on the set of Ren

Kate Madison directs James Malpas (Baynon) on the set of Ren

Many low budget filmmakers would shy away from making a medieval fantasy with swordfights, horses, and a village full of extras, but not Kate Madison. Here is a sneak peek at the show along with some top tips from Kate and her team on how to put a quality epic on the screen.

Kate Madison will be known to many in the indie film world as the maker of the hugely popular Lord of the Rings fan film, Born of Hope. Released in 2009, the movie has had over 30 million YouTube hits to date.

Kate’s latest project is an original fantasy-adventure web series called Ren, about a young woman marked by an ancient spirit and ousted from her village. The teaser trailer for season one will give you an idea of its ambitious scope.

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Law of Sin (Straight Shooter Film Review)

Posted by on Jun 9, 2015 in Featured, Reviews, Straight Shooter Reviews (Feature Narrative) | 0 comments

The Marr family--Irish gypsies, known as “Travellers”--camp outside the rural town of Woodfalls. Unwelcome by the townsfolk, a feud erupts between the eldest boy traveller, Billy (Matthew Ferdenzi), and Damon (Gareth Bennett-Ryan), the son of a local criminal leader. When Billy’s sister, Rebecca (Michelle Crane), goes missing, things begin to spin out of control for all involved...

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